TEMECULA 
Vista Murrieta High pitcher Selina Ta’amilo was cruising Tuesday through five innings of two-hit softball against visiting Corona Santiago in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs.

Although the Broncos had managed only one infield single off Sharks starter Erica Romero, they clung to a one-run lead.

Then the wheels came off.

Corona Santiago scored three runs in the sixth inning and exploded for eight more in the seventh to defeat Vista Murrieta 11-2 and end the Broncos’ season.

“It was looking like it would be a tight ballgame for most of the game, and then — boom — Santiago’s bats just exploded,” Vista Murrieta coach Dan Torres said.

Santiago’s first two batters of the sixth inning reached base, and the team looked to be headed for a big inning. Then the Broncos (18-11) made a few key defensive plays that appeared as if they might halt Santiago’s momentum.

Santiago’s Rachel Minogue doubled to put runners at second and third base with no one out.

With the infield set up for a play at the plate, Vista Murrieta shortstop Sydney Romero cut down a grounder by Santiago’s Kaylin Crumpton and threw home in time to keep Randel Leahy from scoring.

Minogue moved to third on the play, but was later caught off base when catcher Tristen Edwards picked her off at third between pitches. Suddenly there were two outs and a 1-0 advantage still intact, with Crumpton standing at second.

Nichole Fry hit a two-out double, the first of three straight hits for the Sharks to spark a three-run rally.

“This team and these girls never quit and never think that inning is over,” Santiago coach John Perez said.

Sydney Romero got a run back for the Broncos with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the sixth. Ta’amilo followed with a single to right field, and Vista looked as if it might be getting to Erica Romero. But the Santiago ace retired the next three batters.

Santiago’s eight-run seventh, highlighted by a grand slam over the center-field fence by Brittany Abacherli, ensured that there would be no comebacks for the Broncos, who were outhit 15-4.

“It was a great game for six innings,” Torres said. “Even though they had the big inning and are a great team, I don’t think there is that big of a difference between the two teams.”